Assuming the stance of a couch potato, I settled in front of the television this evening to watch the History channel, or better, to allow proper digestion of what I just had in compensation for a skipped lunch.
The 'Black Death' was on. As you'd expect, grisly images, apocalyptic contemplations, and utter societal disarray were all the rage. But even through this, I kept thinking how much of a stark contrast this had with the subsequent Renaissance or 'rebirth' period of the 15th Century.
Interestingly enough, I had chanced upon a book at the Nairobi National Library just this morning, and guess which one? As fate would have it, none other than that of the very icon and forerunner of the Renaissance movement - the one and only Leonardo da Vinci.
By the time I'd finished this marvelous read, about the chronological play-by-play of a life that was altogether full of leaps and milestones, I was, as millions were, left in complete awe. Dumbstruck. Speechless. Lost for words.
He was, and remains, one of a kind. A type of ideal almost supernatural individual, practically heaven sent to inestimably catapult the standards of man.
The purpose, however, is not to laud his unsurpassable feats, but to vividly illustrate, through his fine example, as well as that of the contrastingly dreaded Black Death, the importance of Resilience.
Resilience was, I believe, the ubiquitous theme that carried on through the 14th and 15th century- from such a widescale pandemic that is the unforgotten Black Death, to the singularity of a man; but alas! Not any Tom, Dick and Harry, but the maestro himself, by whom everything touched turned to eternal beauty.
And so, as one reflects upon the transition from one of the most gruesome, soul-devouring plagues to arguably history's most reminisced flourishing periods, one cannot help but feel that the Resilience of this age is what saw it through this untamable scourge, up to a time of renewal and reconstruction. Of discovery and possibilities never before imagined. I reckon it was the rise of the brilliant blazing raven from the ashes; a sort of initiation from death-bringing winter to life-giving spring.
Leonardo himself was not spared of a life wrought with challenges and hurdles, and among the worst being his sworn enmity with Michelangelo. Needless to say, they had gotten off on the wrong foot and ever since despised each other. However, the sharp tongued Michelangelo did once go so far as to not only look down upon painting as a discipline, but Leonardo's notoriety of leaving work unfinished.
It is however at this point that we see the James Allen magic come into play. Leonardo was, as Benzimra reports, hurt deeply; but did he brood or so much as sulk? No. The contrary in fact. He painted the Mona Lisa, the world's most famous portrait ...just to show Michelangelo what a painter could do.
It's funny- the Black Death made its debut in Italy, and so did Leonardo practically a century later. And so Italy, through its rich history stands undeniably as the prototype of Resilience.
Take heart.
The 'Black Death' was on. As you'd expect, grisly images, apocalyptic contemplations, and utter societal disarray were all the rage. But even through this, I kept thinking how much of a stark contrast this had with the subsequent Renaissance or 'rebirth' period of the 15th Century.
Interestingly enough, I had chanced upon a book at the Nairobi National Library just this morning, and guess which one? As fate would have it, none other than that of the very icon and forerunner of the Renaissance movement - the one and only Leonardo da Vinci.
By the time I'd finished this marvelous read, about the chronological play-by-play of a life that was altogether full of leaps and milestones, I was, as millions were, left in complete awe. Dumbstruck. Speechless. Lost for words.
He was, and remains, one of a kind. A type of ideal almost supernatural individual, practically heaven sent to inestimably catapult the standards of man.
The purpose, however, is not to laud his unsurpassable feats, but to vividly illustrate, through his fine example, as well as that of the contrastingly dreaded Black Death, the importance of Resilience.
Resilience was, I believe, the ubiquitous theme that carried on through the 14th and 15th century- from such a widescale pandemic that is the unforgotten Black Death, to the singularity of a man; but alas! Not any Tom, Dick and Harry, but the maestro himself, by whom everything touched turned to eternal beauty.
And so, as one reflects upon the transition from one of the most gruesome, soul-devouring plagues to arguably history's most reminisced flourishing periods, one cannot help but feel that the Resilience of this age is what saw it through this untamable scourge, up to a time of renewal and reconstruction. Of discovery and possibilities never before imagined. I reckon it was the rise of the brilliant blazing raven from the ashes; a sort of initiation from death-bringing winter to life-giving spring.
Leonardo himself was not spared of a life wrought with challenges and hurdles, and among the worst being his sworn enmity with Michelangelo. Needless to say, they had gotten off on the wrong foot and ever since despised each other. However, the sharp tongued Michelangelo did once go so far as to not only look down upon painting as a discipline, but Leonardo's notoriety of leaving work unfinished.
It is however at this point that we see the James Allen magic come into play. Leonardo was, as Benzimra reports, hurt deeply; but did he brood or so much as sulk? No. The contrary in fact. He painted the Mona Lisa, the world's most famous portrait ...just to show Michelangelo what a painter could do.
It's funny- the Black Death made its debut in Italy, and so did Leonardo practically a century later. And so Italy, through its rich history stands undeniably as the prototype of Resilience.
Take heart.
